Locking pivoted structures



Jan. 13, 1970 J. R. METZ 3, ,7

LOCKING PIVOTED S TRUCTURES Filed Sept. 29, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 H MI- Jan. 13, 1970 J. R. METZ 3,488,794

LOCKING PIVOTED STRUCTURES Filed Sept. 29, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QO OZ 0 I Q I N V E NTOR.

Jose 07 E Mezz AGENT United States Patent M 3,488,794 LOCKING PIVOTED STRUCTURES Joseph R. Metz, Ridgefield, Conn., assignoito Norco, Inc., Ridgefield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 671,647 Int. Cl. Ec 1/06, 17/32; E05d 11/08 US. Cl. 16-144 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Pivoted panel and jamb structure with releasable lock device located along the pivotal axis, for locking the panel either open or closed. A release handle pivotally carried by the panel on the lock side thereof extends through an aperture to be accessible from the reverse side. The handle is connected by linkage to a sliding bolt type latch the base of which is mounted on the jamb structure.

BACKGROUND This invention relates generally to pivotally connected structures such as doors, panels and the like, and more particularly to pivoted constructions having releasable locking means by which a pivoted member can be locked in open, closed or other positions.

Prior constructions of the above type have involved either conventional latches or locks located at an edge remote from the pivotal or hinge axis, or else latching devices incorporated as part of the hinge means itself, involving a .modification of the hinging structure depended on for the mounting of the pivotal part. These prior devices either did not serve special needs now found essential for particular situations and environments, or else did not have the required flexibility usually associated with attachments that could be used with different shapes and sizes of pivotal structures. The prior latch structures, moreover, did not lock the pivotal part in open as well as closed position with release effected by one and the same action, utilizing in large part substantially the same locking and release means, same mode of operation and same release handle and requiring but slight additional material so that economy could be effected as well as a simplified release procedure.

SUMMARY The above drawbacks and disadvantages of prior latching-type pivotal structures are obviated by the present invention, and one object thereof is to provide a novel and improved pivotal structure and locking means attachment, characterized by multiple-position locking and wherein the lock device is located at the pivotal axis and readily operated from a remote point and particularly a remote side of the pivotal part. This is accomplished by the pro vision of a latch base member which is securely attachable to the jamb part of the pivotal structure, said member having spaced-apart locking bars or shoulders which are engageable by a locking piece pivoted to the base on the main pivotal axis of the structures and movable between said shoulders. The locking piece is adjustably affixed to the pivotal part of the structures to swing therewith, and carries a slide bolt device engageable with the locking bars or shoulders to 'releasably secure the piece thereto. A release handle extends through an aperture of the pivotal part to be accessible at a side remote from the lock mechanism, and is pivotally mounted on the part and connected to a cam plate on the base, by means of an adjustable push rod. The cam plate in turn actuates the slide bolt device to release the latch.

The above structures effect advantages over prior devices, as will be apparent in the description which follows.

Other objects and features of the invention reside in the provision of an improved latching structure as above outlined, which is simple, small and compact, sturdy in construction, readily applied to existing pivoted members as an attachment, quickly and easily adjustable, and foolproof and reliable in operation.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the releasable lock or latching device of the invention in combination with a pair of pivotally connected structures which are shown in horizontal section. One pivoted structure is illustrated as being in the form of a panel occupying a closed position; the open position of the panel part is illustrated in broken outline in this figure.

FIG. 2 is a section, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the structures of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one of the cam plates utilized in the latching device.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a locking piece and slide bolt assemblage as provided in the latch device.

FIG. 6 is an edge view of the assemblage of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a guide plate as provided in the latch device.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the slide plate or bolt of the latch device.

Considering first FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated a pair of pivotally or hingedly joined parts 10 and 12, the part 12 being shown as having a panel-like or door-like configuration and the part 10 constituting a jamb or similar structure. The parts 10 and 12 could for example be constituted of armor plate, and are secured to each other by hinge or pivotal mounting means (not shown) which may be of any suitable type, such hinge means having a vertical axis indicated in the various figures at 14.

The full line showing of FIG. 1 illustrates the panel or door 12 in its closed position, whereas the open position of the door 12 is shown in broken outline in this figure.

In accordance with the present invention, in conjunction with the hingedly connected parts 10, 12 there is provided a novel releasable, latch device designated generally by the numeral 16, said latch device comprising a base assemblage 18 and a locking piece assemblage 20 which are pivotally connected with each other by a pivot pin 22 located on the common axis 14 of the hinges (not shown) of the parts 10, 12.

The base assemblage 18 is secured to the jamb part 10 by means of mounting feet 24, and the locking piece assemblage 20 is in accordance with the invention adjustably secured to the panel part 12 by a mounting bracket 26 having apertured feet 28 and a central U-shaped portion 30.

The base assemblage 18 comprises a pair of horizontally extending generally triangular plates 32 having the feet 24, and further comprises a pair of rigid spaced apart latching shoulders in the form of cross pins or bars 34 and 36. The cross pin 36 is spaced a slight distance from the jamb part 10, being located in one set of corners of the base plates 32, whereas the cross pin 34 is located an appreciable distance from the part 10, being located at another set of corners of the plates 32.

The locking piece assemblage 20 comprises a pair of spaced identically shaped locking pieces 38 which have interposed between them a somewhat U-shaped guide plate 40, said pieces and guide plate being welded to each other to form a rigid and immovable assemblage, and having aligned openings indicated at 42 in FIG. 5, through which the pivot pin 22 passes. Collars 44 (FIG. 2) on the pivot pin 22 maintain the locking piece assemblage 20 centralized between and spaced from the base plates 32, such assemblage however being pivotally mounted on said base plates by the pin 22.

For cooperation respectively with the latching shoulders 34, 36, the locking piece assemblage 20 has notched formations 46 and 48 adapted to receive one at any time the shoulders or pins 34, 36. In FIG. 1, the notch formation 46 as shown as accommodating the pin 34 according to the full line showing, wherea the broken line showing of FIG. 1 illustrates the notch formation 48 as accommodating the pin 36.

The locking piece assemblage 20 can be locked to the base assemblage 18 in either the full line position of the assemblage 20 shown in FIG. 1, or else in the broken line position of the assemblage 20 shown in this figure. Such locking is effected by means of a slide bolt structure in the form of a bolt plate 50 which is adapted to be slidably received between the locking pieces 38 as well as between the upright portions or legs 52, 54 of the guide plate 40. The bolt plate 50 is thereby guided for advancing and retracting movement, the advanced position of the bolt plate being that indicated in FIG. 1.

The bolt plate 50 has locking nose portions 56 and 58 adapted to respectively project into the notch formations 46, 48 of the locking piece assemblage 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

To hold the bolt plate 50 captive and to effect its actuation, the plate has an actuator pin 60 carried in an opening 62, said pin being accommodated in a pair of guide slots 64 provided in the locking pieces 38 (FIG. When the bolt plate 50 is in its advanced position as shown, the pin 60 occupies one set of ends of the guide slots 64, and when the pin 60 is shifted toward the other ends of the slot 64, the bolt plate 50 will be withdrawn or retracted whereupon the nose portions 56, 58 will not protrude into the notch formations 46, 48. The bolt plate 50 is biased to its advanced, latching position by a pair of compression springs 66 accommodated in slots 68 of the locking pieces 38, the ends of said springs engaging suitable projections of the bolt plate 50 and guide plate 40 as will be readily understood.

The provision of the springs 66 in conjunction with the tapered shape of the nose portions 56, 58 of the bolt plate 50 enable the locking piece assemblage 20 to automatically latch to either the cross pin 34 or else the cross pin 36 as the assemblage 20 is pivotally shifted between its two extreme positions illustrated in FIG. 1.

In order to effect the desired positioning of the panel part 12 when the latch is in the closed locking position shown in FIG. 1, the mounting means for the assemblage 20 is arranged to enable an adjustable positioning of the assemblage to be effected. Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the assemblage 20 is shown as having a pair of mounting lugs 70 to which there is secured a threaded cross piece or nut 72, accommodating an adjusting screw 74 arranged to engage the panel part 12.

The mounting bracket 26 carries a hollow lock screw 76 in its central U-shaped portion 30, hearing against tee screw 74 in the threaded cross piece 72, thereby maintaining the adjusting screw 74 in engagement with the panel part 12. To effect the initial adjustment, the locking screw 76 is not in place. The adjusting screw 74 is turned to obtain the required relationship between the panel part 12 and the locking assemblage 20 whereby a proper positioning of the panel part 12 is had, whereupon the locking screw 76 is threaded into the bracket portion 30 and tightened to lock the adjustment.

In accordance with the present invention a novel and unique actuator mechanism is provided to eifect retraction or releasing movement of the bolt plate 50. Such actuator mechanism comprises a pair of cam plates 78 having apertures 80 by which they are pivotally carried on the pivot pin 22 at opposite sides of the locking piece assemblage 20. The cam plates 78 have triangular apertures 82 in which the pin 60 of the bolt plate 50 is received. sloping edges 84 of the apertures 82 can engage the pin 60' and cam the pin downward as viewed in FIG. 5, thereby efiecting a retraction of the bolt plate 50 in response to counterclockwise turning movement of the plates 78 when considering FIGS. 4 and 5.

The clearance represented by the triangular shape of the apertures 82 enables the bolt plate 50 to be shifted to retracted position without requiring movement of the cam plates 78, this occurring during the automatic latching of the device in either of the two positions shown in FIG. 1.

The cam plates 78 have depending portions 86 with apertures 88 in which there is received a cross pin 90 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which is also carried by a pair of lever plates 92 pivoting about the pivot pin 22 and pivotally connected respectively to the two arms 94 of a linkage bar assemblage designated generally by the numeral 96. The assemblage 96 includes a screw 98 threaded into a block 100, said screw having a smooth shank 102 which slides in a bearing block 104 pivotally mounted between bracket plates 106 having base portions 108 rigidly secured to the panel part 12. The bracket plates 106 carry a pivot pin 110 which pivotally mounts a release handle 112 passing through an aperture 114 in the panel part 12. The release handle 112 has an impact plate 116 of relatively large area, which is intended to have force applied to it for the purpose of pivotally moving the handle 112 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1.

The handle 112 includes a nose portion 118 which is engageable with the end of the screw 98, having an abutting driving connection therewith, whereby counterclockwise pivotal movement of the handle 112 will result in right-to-left movement of the linkage bar assemblage 96 (considering FIG. 1). This in turn will effect counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever plates 92 and also the cam plates 78 whereby the bolt plate 50 will be retracted, releasing the latch. Upon removal of the force from the handle 112, 116, the compression springs 66 will restore the bolt plate 50 to the locking position whereupon the panel part 12 may be locked in the open position indicated by the broken outline in FIG. 6 with the cross pin 36 being accomodated in the notch formation 48 of the locking piece assemblage 20.

To release the latch so as to enable the panel part 12 to be swung closed, force again is applied to the impact plate 116 of the handle 112 to effect a retraction of the latch plate 50 in the manner already described above. The panel part 12 may then be swung closed, and such part will be automatically locked in the closed position by the latch device if the handle 112 is not experiencing a releasing force.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved combination pivoted panel and jamb structure with releasable locking device, wherein the panel part can be easily and quickly latched either in its open or closed position. The latching arrangement is relatively simple, independent of the hinging means for the panel part, and is located to carry out its function at the common axis of the hinge means for the pivoted structures. The latching device is so constituted that the parts may be sturdily constructed whereby it is capable of handling extremely heavy loads, as for example, where the panel part 12 is constituted of armor plate, as well as the jamb part 10. The latch mechanism is easily operated, and foolproof and reliable in use.

I claim:

1. A lockable and releasable pivoted mechanical construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a pair of pivotally connected parts,

(b) a latch base having mounting means rigidly attaching it to one of said parts, and having a rigid latching houlder sp ced from said mo n ing m an (c) a locking piece including mounting means rigidly attaching said piece to the other of said parts,

(d) means pivotally connecting the locking piece and base to each other along the pivotal axis of said pivoted parts, said locking piece having a predetermined locked pivotal position on the base,

(e) a lock device carried by the locking piece, including a bolt slidable on said piece between an advanced locking position wherein it engages the latching shoulder to hold the locking piece in one predetermined pivotal position on the base and a retracted releasing position wherein it is disengaged from the latching shoulder,

(f) a release handle movably carried on said other part, said handlebeing movable between locking and releasing positions, and

(g) a movement transmission means connected with said release handle and locking bolt for actuating the latter in response to movement of the handle on said other part,

(h) said locking piece having a second predetermined locked pivotal position on the base,

(i) said base having a second rigid latching shoulder spaced from said mounting means,

(j) releasable lock means on said locking piece, separate from said bolt and engageable with said second latching shoulder to releasably hold the locking piece in said second locked pivotal position, and

(k) said releasable lock means being operable for release by the said movement transmission means.

2. A mechanical construction as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the mounting means for the locking piece is adjustable to enable an adjustable positioning of said piece about the pivotal connection between it and the said base.

3. A mechanical construction as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the handle is movable on said other part in directions which are generally the same as the directions of pivotal movement of the other part with respect to said one part whereby a force exerted on said handle to move it to releasing position can in addition effect pivotal movement of said other part.

4. A mechanical construction as in claim 3, wherein:

(a) said other part has a panel-like configuration with an aperture through it,

(b) said transmission means being disposed on one side of the other part,

(c) said handle extending through the aperture of said other part to be accessible at the other side thereof for the purpose of receiving a force thereon.

5. A lockable and releasable pivoted mechanical construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a pair of pivotally connected parts,

(b) a latch base having mounting means rigidly attaching it to one of said parts, and having a rigid latching shoulder spaced from said mounting means,

(c) a locking piece including mounting means rigidly attaching said piece to the other of said parts,

(d) means pivotally connecting the locking piece and base to each other along the pivotal axis of said pivoted parts, said locking piece having a predetermined locked pivotal position on the base,

(e) a lock device carried by the locking piece, including a bolt slidable on said piece between an advanced locking position wherein it engages the latching shoulder to hold the locking piece in one predetermined pivotal position on the base and a retracted releasing position wherein it is disengaged from the latching shoulder, wherein the improvement comprises:

(f) a release handle movably carried on said other part, said handle being movable between locking and releasing positions, and

(g) a movement transmission means connected with said release handle and locking bolt for actuating the latter in response to movement of the handle on said other part,

(h) said handle being movable on said other part in directions which are generally the same as the directions of pivotal movement of the other part with respect to said one part whereby a force exerted on said handle to move it to releasing position can in addition elfect pivotal movement of said other part,

(i) said locking piece having a second predetermined locked pivotal position on the base,

(j) said base having a second rigid latching shoulder spaced from said mounting means,

(k) releasable lock means on said locking piece, separate from said bolt and engageable with said second latching shoulder to releasably hold the locking piece in said second locked pivotal position, and

(1) said releasable lock means being operable for re lease by the said movement transmission means.

6. A mechanical construction as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) said locking piece is pivotally movable between said first-mentioned latching shoulder and said second latching shoulder, and

(b) said lock device and releasable lock means being disposed on opposite sides of said locking piece.

7. A lockable and releasable pivoted mechanical construction comprising, in combination;

(a) a pair of pivotally connected parts,

(b) a latch base having mounting means rigidly attaching it to one of said parts, and having a rigid latching shoulder spaced from said mounting means,

(c) a locking piece including mounting means rigidly attaching said piece to the other of said parts,

((1) means pivotally connecting the locking piece and base to each other along the pivotal axis of said pivoted parts, said locking piece having a predetermined locked pivotal position on the base,

(e) a lock device carried by the locking piece, including a bolt, slidable on said piece between an advanced locking position wherein it engages the latching shoulder to hold the locking piece in one predetermined pivotal position on the base and a retracted position wherein it is disengaged from the latching shoulder, wherein the improvement comprises:

(f) a release handle movably carried on said other part, said handle being movable between locking and releasing positions, and

(g) a movement transmission means connected with said release handle and locking bolt for actuating the latter in response to movement of the handle on said other part,

(11) said handle being movable on said other part in directions which are generally the same as the directions of pivotal movement of the other part with respect to said onepart whereby a force exerted on said handle to move it to releasing position can in addition elfect pivotal movement of said other part,

(i) means for pivotally mounting the handle on said other part,

(j) said movement transmission means comprising a linkage extending from said handle and coupled to said locking bolt,

(k) said movement transmission means comprising a cam plate pivoted on said base and pivotally connected to said linkage.

8. A mechanical construction as in claim 7, wherein:

(a) the locking bolt has a pin engaged with the cam plate,

(b) said locking piece having a guide slot through which the pin of the bolt passes and in which it is guided to provide a slide mounting for the bolt.

9. A mechanical constructon as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said locking piece includes a U-shaped guide plate in which the bolt is guided and movable, and

(b) means biasing the bolt to its advanced locking position.

10. A mechanical construction as in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said bolt biasing means comprising a compression spring engaged at its ends with said bolt and guide late.

11% A mechanical construction as in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said linkage comprises a bar having an abutting driving connection with the handle, and

(b) means for adjustably shortening or lengthening said linkage bar.

12. A lockable and releasable pivoted mechanical construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a pair of pivotally connected parts,

(b) a latch base having mounting means rigidly attaching it to one of said parts, and having a rigid latching shoulder spaced from said mounting means,

(0) a locking piece including mounting means rigidly attaching said piece to the other of said parts,

((1) means pivotally connecting the locking piece and base to each other along the pivotal axis of said pivoted parts, said locking piece having a predetermined locked pivotal position on the base,

(e) a lock device carried by the locking piece, including a bolt slidable on said piece between an advanced locking position wherein it engages the latching shoulder to hold the locking piece in one predetermined pivotal position on the base and a retracted releasing position wherein it is disengaged from the latching shoulder, wherein the improvement comprises:

(f) a release handle movably carried on said other part, said handle being movable between locking and releasing positions, and

(g) a movement transmission means connected with said release handle and locking bolt for actuating the latter in response to movement of the handle of said other part,

(h) said movement transmission means comprising a cam plate pivotally carried by said base and having a camming connection with the slide bolt, and a link which couples the cam plate to said handle.

13. A mechanical construction as in claim 12, wherein:

(a) the movement transmission means comprises a second cam plate pivotally carried by the base in spaced relation to the first-mentioned cam plate and connected to said link,

(b) said slide bolt being disposed between said cam plates and having shoulders on its opposite sides, engaged with the cam plates to be actuated thereby.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 990,552 4/1911 Hassmann 16144 2,191,437 2/1940 Bode 2,92166 2,974,354 3/1961 Matuzes 16-175 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 292159, 263 

